Profile: Meet Akili

Name: Akili Ramsess
Position: Director of Photography at the Orlando Sentinel
Family: Married 26 years to an amazing artist, Kisasi Ramsess, three sons, one granddaughter.

From: Bremerton, Wash., but I’m a military brat – raised all over the U.S. 
Essential periodicals: Photography and motorcycles
Last books read: Tin Roof Blowdown, James Lee Burke; Vampire Huntress series by LA Banks
Favorite all-time movies: The Matrix, Raising Arizona, Shawshank Redemption, Cool Hand Luke, In the Heat of the Night and Easy Rider

What’s playing on my iPod or in my cd changer: Mary J. Blige, Jill Scott, John Legend, Common, Marvin Gaye, Etta James, Eric Clapton…

Favorite Saturday night activity: Blues Clubs, bookstores or a movie

Disney drops Classic; MetPro drops copy editors

Bad news this morning.

Orlando Sentinel sports reporter (and CFABJ member) Kyle Hightower reports that Disney is ending its sponsorship of the annual Florida Classic football game between Bethune-Cookman University and Florida A&M University.

The game needs a new sponsor. Disney sponsored it for 10 years, to the tune of $2.7 million.

Disney partner ESPN is, however, bringing another big HBCU game to Orlando: the MEAC/SWAC Challenge.

In other dispiriting news, Dick Prince of Journal-isms reports that MetPro has stopped training copy editors — for now, at least.

MetPro has trained more than 200 minority reporters and editors during the past 20 years. It’s said that the change is the result of a decentralization of the role Tribune Co., owner of the Orlando Sentinel, is playing in shaping the program.

BarCampOrlando registration begins soon

Registration begins Thursday, Feb. 28, for the next BarCampOrlando, which is skedded for April 5 and 6.

At this point, you’re probably wondering what BarCampOrlando is and and why you should be there.

The simple explanation is that it’s an opportunity to geek out with software developers and other multimedia folks about film, photography, design and other new media. If you consider yourself a multimedia type — or just aspire to be one — this is the place to be.

But here’s a better definition:

Monday roundup

• See the Orlando Sentinel’s series about the eight black families that integrated Orange County Schools
• The Daily Commercial of Leesburg reports on a theatrical production that illuminates how one of Clermont’s first black families decided to move to Lake County in the 19th century
• Michelle Ferrier of the Daytona News-Journal asks how Nascar can energize its drive for diversity
• Copy editors, the deadline to apply for the Maynard Institute editing fellowships is March 10

Barack Obama at NABJ

originally uploaded by CFABJ.

presidential candidate Barack Obama addresses the 2007 NABJ Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.